Match-safe.



PATENTED DEC. 24, 1907.

R. R. MONT.

MATCH SAFE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1906- 11011 art ATTORNEYS.

., WASHINGTON, n. c,

ROBERT R. MONT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATCH-SAFE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 1907.

Application filed September 24. 1906. Serial No, 335,959.

- such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompan ing drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention has reference, generally, to improvements in matchsafes or boxes; and, the invention relates, more particularly, to a novel construction of matchsafe or box having a movable element which can be raised for the purpose of presenting a single match with each operation.

The present invention, therefore, has for its principal object to provide a novel and simply constructed match-safe or box, in which matches in quantity canbe readily placed, and which can be easily and quickly manipulated for the placing of a single match upon a receiver therefor, without any danger of accidental ignition due to friction, and leaving said single match exposed outside of the 1natch-box after the movable parts of the device have assumed their normal initial positions.

Other objects of the present invention will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the sa'me.

With the various objects of my present invention in view, the said invention consists, primarily, in the novel match-safe or box hereinafter set forth; and, furthermore, this invention consists in the novel arrangements and combinations of the various parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claims which are appended. to this specification and form an essential part of the same.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a top or plan view of a matchsafe or box, made in the design of a log-cabin, and embodying the rinciples of this invention. Fig. 3 is a longltudinal vertical section taken centrally through the match-safe or box; and Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of the same, showing the arrangement of the movable arts of the box in their normal initial positions. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section of the match-box or safe, showing the movable parts of the device in their fully operated positions, prior to returning into their normal initial positions, for the presentation of a single match upon the receiver outside of the box or casing.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, the reference-character 1 indicates the complete match-safe or box, the same being preferably made in theform of a log-cabin but, it will be evident, that the same may be of any other desired design. The said matchsafe or box comprises a suitable base 2 formed in its upper surface with a depression or recess 3, to provide a ledge or shoulder 4, which is preferably of a rectangular configurationas clearly illustrated in the several figures of thedrawings. Extending in an upward direction from said depression or recess 3 is a post provided at the top with a match-receiving means, said post consisting essentially of a pair of vertical plate-like members or elements 5 and 6, which are connected at the top by a concave or channel-like portion 7, bounded upon its opposite edges by longitudinally extending convex portions 8 and 9. Each member or element 5 and 6 is provided at its lower end with a laterally and outwardly extending foot-piece 10, said foot-pieces being suitably secured upon said base 2 by means of pins or screws 11, or in any other suitable manner. Movably arranged upon the said match-receiving means is a shell or casing 12 comprising the longitudinally extending sides 13, forming the back and front of said device,

and the ends 14, said ends extending above the upper edges of the sides 13, being made of a triangular configuration, as at 15, and being formed at each apex with a perforated ear or lug 16. The lower part of said shell or casing is open, as at 17. Suitably secured at or near the upper edges of said sides 13, and extending longitudinally between the ends 14, by means of edge-portions 18 are two downwardly and inwardly extending plates 19, each plate being made with a concave or channel-shaped part 20, and an upwardly projecting and convex marginal edge 2 1, substantially as shown. Extending downwardly from each marginal edge 21 is a flange 22, the two flanges 22 providing a longitudinally extending opening 23 between them. As will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, said flanges 22 are arranged upon the opposite sides of the support formed by the two members or elements 5 and 6, and being preferably in slight frictional engagement with said sides, the said shell or casing 12 is readily slidable up and down upon said support, and when lowered, as indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the lower marginal edges of the sides 13 and ends 14 enter the depression or recess 3 in the base 2, and are snugly surrounded on all sides by the ledge or shoulder 4.

The reference-characters 24 and 25 indicate a pair of topplates, arranged upon the upper edges of the triangular end-portions 15 of the ends 14, said top-plates being respectively provided at their end-portions with per forated ears or lugs 26 and 27. By means of journals or pintles 28 which extend through the several perforated ears or lugs 16, 26 and 27, as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the two top-plates are hinged or pivotally arranged at the top of the match-safe or box, as will be clearly evident. The longitudinally extending edgeportions of the two top plates 24 and 25, between the said perforated ears or lugs are cut-away, as at 29 and 30, to produce the longitudinally extending opening 31, shown in the several figures of the drawings, and into and through which the concave or channel-like part 7 of the two members or elements 5 and 6 projects, when the parts are in their normally lowered positions, all of which is clearly illustrated in Figs. 1. to 4 inclusive. Upon their under faces said top-plates 24 and 25 are provided with suitably disposed loops or holding portions 32 in which are arranged the respective ends of springs 33, the purpose of said springs being to allow the said top-plates to beraised, and to normally hold said plates down upon the angular edge-portions of the ends 14, as I clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. It will also be noticed, that each journal or pintle 28 has a downwardly extending rod or member34, the same being connected by a bar 35 which is arranged in the space formed by the two members or elements 5 and 6, and is movably disposed in said space substantially as and for the purposes to be presently more fully described.

Having thus described the general arrangement and construction of the parts of my novel matchsafe or box, I will now briefly set forth the manner of supplying the device with matches, and the method of operating the movable parts for the purposes of removing matches one at a time from the device.

To fill the device with the matches, a finger is placed upon the channel-like portion 7 and either of said top-plates 24 or 25 raised to the position indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The matches, in quantity are then deposited in the two chambers formed by the two members 5 and 6, the inclined plates 19, the endportions of the shell or casing 12, in the manner clearly shown in said Fig. 4. The top-plate or plates, as soon as the lifting power is removed therefrom, are then closed down and retained in their closed positions by the springs 33, all the parts being in their normal initial positions, illustrated in said figure. When it is desired to obtain a match, by placing the thumb and forefinger respectively upon the lower edges of the two topplates 24 and 25, the various parts are raised to the position indicated in Fig. 5, until the bar 35 engages the under surface of the channel-shaped portion 7, whereby the p arts are prevented from becoming separated, which would otherwise render the device inoperative and useless. W'hen raised to the position shown in said Fig. 5, the matches have assumed the relative positions shown in said figure, the matches being promiscu ously disposed over the receiving channel or portion 7. As soon as the shell or casing and other movable parts are returned to their normal initial positions, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, all the matches, but one, are also returned; said single match, however, being retained in said channel-shaped portion 7, by the two upwardly projecting convex edgeportions 8 and 9, and it is presented to the operator for removal, as soon as said portion 7' has entered the opening 31 and projects above the box in the manner represented in Figs. 1 and 4. Thus, with each upward and downward movement of the parts, a single .lnatch may be removed for use, as will be clearly understood.

Referring now once more to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, it will be evident, that the use of the channel-shaped parts 20 and the convex portions 21 of the two-plates 19 are very important, the function of each convex edge 21, during the upward and downward movements of said plates 19, is to force a match into each channel-shaped part 20 and prevent a match becoming jammed between the outer surface of either member or element 5 and 6, and the flanges 23, and thereby possibly on account of friction igniting the head of the match. The tendency of said convex portions therefore is to hold the matches at the bottom of the piles on opposite sides of the members 5 and 6 away instead of toward said members, thereby avoiding all danger of accidental ignition.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be seen that I have devised a simplyconstructed and efficiently operating device for use as a match-safe or box from which single matches can be removed in succession for use as desired.

I claim 1. A match-safe comprising a base, a vertically extending post provided at the top with a match-receiving means, a shell or casing movably arranged upon said post, means in said shell or casing for retaining matches in quantity within said shell or casing, a pair of angularly arranged top-plates pivotally connected at their upper edges in a hingelike manner with portions of said shell or casing, each top-plate having a movement independent of the other and said top-plates being cut away along the adjacent longitudinal edges, so as to provide an opening through which the upper portion of said post and its match-receiving means projects when said shell or casing is in its lower position upon the base, and springs arranged upon the under faces of said top-plates for normally forcing said plates down upon said shell or casing and permitting said top-plates to be used as finger-pieces for lifting said shell or casing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A match-safe comprising a base, a vertically extending post provided at the top with a match-receiving means, a shell or casing movably arranged upon said post, in-

clined plates within said shell or casing forming with portions of said shell or casing a match-receptacle, and means extending along the lower portions of said plates, for forcing the matches away from the sides of said post during the sliding movements of said shell or casing, a pair of angularlyarranged top-plates pivotally connected at their upper edges in a hinge-like manner with the upper portions of said casing, each top-plate having a movement independent of the other, and said top-plates being cut away along their adjacent longitudinal edges, so as to provide an opening through which the upper portion of said. post and its match-receiving means projects when said shell or casing is in its lowered position upon the base, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A match-safe comprising a base, a vertically extending post provided at the top with a matchreceiving means, a shell or casing movably arranged upon said post,- inclined plates within said shell or casing forming with portions of said shell or casing a match receptacle, and means extending along the lower portions of said plates, for forcing the matches away from the sides of said post during the sliding movements of said shell or casing, a pair of angularly arranged top-plates pivotally connected at their upper edges in a hinge-like manner with the upper portions of said shell or casing, each top-plate having a movement independent of the other, and said top-plates being cut away along their adjacent longitudinal edges, so as to provide an opening through which the upper portion of said post and its match-receiving means projects when said shell or casing is in its lowered position upon the base, and springs arranged upon the under faces of said top-plates for n ormally forcing said plates down upon the said shell or casing and permitting said top-plates to be used as fingerpieces for lifting said shell or casing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A match-safe comprising a base, a vertically extending post provided at the top with a match receiving means, a shell or casing movably arranged upon said post, inclined plates within said shell or casing forming with portions of said shell or casing a match-receptacle, and means, consisting of a channel-shaped part 20 and a convex marginal edge 21, extending along the lower marginal edge of each plate, and on opposite sides of the post, for forcing the matches away from the sides of the post during the sliding movements of said shell or casing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. A matchsafe comprising a base, a ver tically extending'post provided at the top with a match-receiving means, a shell or casing movably arranged upon said post, inclined plates within said shell or casing forming with portions of said shell or casing a match-receptacle, and means consisting of a channel-shaped part 20 and a convex mar ginal edge 21, extending along the lower marginal edge of each plate, and on opposite sides of the post, for forcing the matches away from the sides of the post during the sliding movements of said shell or casing, top-plates pivotally connected with the upper portions of said shell or casing, said top-plates being cut away along their adjacent edges, so as to provide an opening through which the upper portion of said post and its match-receiving means projects when said shell or casing is in its lowered position upon the base,,substan tially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. A match-safe comprising a base, a vertically extending post provided at the top with a match-receiving means, a shell or casing movably arranged upon said post, inclined plates within said shell or casing forming with portions of said shell or casing a match-receptacle, and means consisting of a channel-shaped part 20 and a convex marginal edge 21, extending along the lower marginal edge of each plate, and on opposite sides of the post, for forcing the matches away from the sides of the post during the sliding movements of said shell or casing, top-plates pivotally connected with the upper portions of said shell or casing, said top-plates being cut away along their adjacent longitudinal edges, so as to provide an opening through which the upper portion of said post and its AEL match-receiving means projects when said shell or casing is in its lowered position upon the base, and springs arranged upon the un der faces of said top-plates for normally forcing said plates down upon the said shell or casing and permitting said top-plates to be used as fingerpieces for lifting said shell or casing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. A match-safe comprising a base, a vertically extending post comprising a pair of members and a channel-shaped 1natchre ceiving means connecting the upper ends of said members, a shell or casing movably arranged upon said members, inclined plates within said shell or casing forming with portions of said shell or casing a match-receptacle, and means consisting of a channelshaped part 20 and a convex marginal edge 21, extending along the lower marginal edge of each plate and on opposite sides of the members of said post, for forcing the matches away from the sides of said members during the sliding movements of said shell or casing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. The herein-described match-safe comprising a base, a vertically extending post comprising a pair of members and a channelshaped match-receiving means connecting the upper end of said members, a shell or casing movably arranged upon said members, perforated ears connected. with portions of said shell or casing, a pair of top-plates arranged upon the upper edge-portions of said shell or casing, perforated ears connected with said top-plates, pintles in said ears for pivotally connecting said top-plates to said shell or casing, a rod extending downwardly from each pintle, and a connecting bar between the lower ends of said rods, said bar extending and being movable between the pair of members of said vertically extending post, and being adapted to engage with the under surface of the channel-shaped matchreceiving means at the upper ends of said members to limit the upward movement of said shell or casing, inclined plates within said shell or casing forming with portions of said shell or casing a match-receptacle, and means consisting of a channel-shaped part 20 and a convex marginal edge 21 extending along the lower marginal edge of each plate and on opposite sides of the members of said post, for forcing the matches away from the sides of said members during the sliding movements of said shell or casing, andsaid top-plates being cut away along their adjacent longitudinal edges, so as to provide an opening through which the channel-shaped match-receiving means of the post projects when said shell or casing is in its lowered position upon the base, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of September, 1906.

ROBERT R. MONT.

Vitnesses JOHN F. MOFARLANE, GEO. D. RICHARDS. 

